On 10 September 2023, the training moved out of the classroom and onto the ocean. The team boarded two speedboats and went to try the survey for real.
Two teams, two boats
The group split in two. Each boat was given a supervisor, life jackets, smartphones for navigation and the small underwater camera. The supervisors were there to guide the team, answer questions and solve problems as they came up.
The plan had been to start at 8:00 AM, but the boats only left at 11:00 AM because of logistics on the day. Even with the late start, every team got real time on the water.
Helping nervous first-timers
Not everyone on the team was used to being on the open sea. A few felt sea-sick, and one or two were quite anxious. The team leaders on each boat were patient - they took time to settle people, explained what to expect from the waves, and helped them through the first hour. By the end of the day, the whole group was working together.
Why it had to be tested
A field test like this is not just practice. It shows where the plan works and where it needs adjustment before the real survey begins. Teams formed partnerships on the boat that would carry into the proper data collection phase.